Effect of nerve mobilization plus rehabilitation therapy on function of lower extremity in patients with hemiplegia after stroke

Objective:To observe the effect of nerve mobilization combined with rehabilitation therapy on function of lower extremity in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.Methods:Forty-nine stroke patients were randomly divided into observation group(n=25) and control group(n=24).Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation training,and observation group received treatment of nerve mobilization additionally.Composite spasticity scale(CSS) was used for assessing the ankle planter flexor,Fugl-Meyer motor assessment(FMA) for the lower extremity,Berg balance scale(BBS) for stability and modified Barthel index(MBI) for activities daily living(ADL) before and after the treatment.Results:After four weeks of treatment,CSS scores of the hemiplegic lower limb in both groups were significantly decreased as compared with pre-treatment(P0.01),and those in observation group were lower than in control group(P0.01);FMA,BBS and ADL scores in both groups were increased significantly as compared with pre-treatment(P0.01),and those in observation group were higher than in control group(P0.05,0.01).Conclusion:Nerve mobilization combined with rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of stroke patients can decrease ankle spasticity and improve motor function of lower extremity,stability and activities of daily living.